While Texas Democrats have been talking a big game for years, from 2014's 'Battleground Texas' goal of 'turning Texas blue,' to the 'blue wave' that Democrats keep talking about for 2018, the latest fundraising numbers show Republicans still firmly in command, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
So far $67 million has been raised for state level campaigns from January to December 2017, and fully 90% of that money going to Texas Republicans.
"There are a lot more focus, a lot more competition in the Republican primary right now than on the Democratic side," Rice University political analyst Mark Jones told News Radio 1200 WOAI.
"And there are simply far more Republicans that are office holders seeking money than Democrats."
More than $20 million of that $67 million raised for state races has been raised by one person--Greg Abbott---who may be the most prolific fundraiser ever in Texas.
"There is just nothing even close to the equivalent of Governor Abbott on the Democratic side," Jones said.Abbott is estimated to have nearly $50 million in his campiagn account, which is enabling him to take on the 'kingmaker' role by supporting other candidates of his choosing in the upcoming Republican primary.
Jones says Democrats are having more luck raising funds on the federal level, and Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke and Gina Ortiz Jones, who is running for the nomination to oppose Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio) reporting strong fundraising totals.
But experts say this is simply another advantage of incumbancy. With Republicans firmly planted in all of the state's top statewide offices, they are considered a 'better investment' by donors, simply because the state currently has more Republican voters than Democrats.
There are also inbred fundraising advantages for incumbants, the most noteworthy is a policy of the governor choosing campaign donors to serve on influential state boards and commissions, like the Texas and Texas A&M System Boards of Regents.